What Makes a Successful Temp?

So you don't have the greatest resume in town. Maybe the holes you see in your professional experience are wide enough to cause others to wonder what the heck your problem is. Don't despair. While a strong work history and solid skills will always be important, personal qualities will help lead the way to employment opportunities.

Over the years I've placed thousands of temporary employees to work. When two individuals of equal qualification came in looking for work, it became readily apparent that the person I'd offer the assignment to was the one who displayed personal qualities that were never discovered in a resume.

The Staffing industry is hectic. The reason is the constant need on the part of employers to find the "perfect" employee. Often this need is an immediate one due to circumstances beyond the employers' control. The smart staffing service specialist responds quickly to a client's request with the right person for the job.

Flexibility

A temporary employee who is flexible is a staffing specialist's dream. This individual is willing to take assignments that are not always exactly what he or she wants. This person knows that one goal is to make the staffing specialist's job as seamless and headache free as possible.

Display your flexibility in the following ways:

Be willing to adjust your hourly pay requirements, not because you're desperate, but because you're willing to make the process work for everyone.

Don't lock yourself into rigid hours or days to work. Be open to a variable schedule if it's short term and can get you future long-term consideration.

Start early and work late if it helps out on rare occasions. Your commitment to interests beyond your own will be noticed.

Be ready to change on short notice. Understand that when you're actually on the work site your job may change from what you originally expected or were told it would be. Roll with the punches unless the work is clearly not within your skill set.

Never accept an assignment only to try and manipulate the hours or assignment duties once you begin work. If you try this kind of behavior, your first work assignment could be your last.

Reliability

If a staffing service specialist had one wish it would be for temporary employees to be consistently reliable. An unreliable temporary makes the staffing service itself look unreliable to its clients. In a competitive market if you can show to the world that you're not only a reliable employee but a reliable person as well, your days of unemployment may be shortened.

Display your reliability in the following ways:

Show up and complete every single assignment unless a life-threatening emergency prevents you from doing so.

If the unforeseen happens, call the staffing service as soon as possible to allow time to refill your assignment. The last thing a staffing service wants is an unreliable temporary standing up its best client.

Be on time for every appointment and every assignment you accept. Forget excuses. Do everything you can to not inconvenience others. Your thoughtfulness will be noticed.

Be a person of your word. Never accept an assignment only to turn it down later for a better opportunity or for more money. Your reputation will always follow you.

Always tell the truth. Never accept an assignment out of fear that if you don't you'll never be offered another one. The best temporary employees are those who are up front with the staffing service specialist. They're remembered for their honesty.

Team Player

Above all else, staffing services are looking for employees who consider themselves part of the team. You are representing the staffing service when you're on assignment. Understand that you can make or break a company's reputation by your work ethic and attitude. As a team player you have the opportunity to advance the interests and goals of those around you. Never miss an opportunity to do so.

Display your team player ethic in the following ways:

Emphasize through your words and actions that you're interested in helping the team reach its goals.

Remember that you're a team player and not a team leader, unless you're asked to be one. You may have the greatest ideas in the world, but if you present them in a way that leads others to distance themselves, you're really not interested in the team.

Honor the team leader. Whether it's a supervisor, a colleague, or the staffing service specialist, recognize others' abilities. People usually hold positions they more than earned. An attitude of respect will go a long ways.

Always listen with an ear to learn. Remember that much of what you've already learned came from the mouths and experiences of others. Soak up all the information you can from the team and use it to the team's advantage.

Go beyond the job description. Ask for more work. Offer your time to a workmate if you've finished your own work. In other words, be the best professional friend you can be.

When all is said and done, to stand out from the crowd of numerous others who are looking for work such as yourself, you've got to put others' agendas ahead of your own. By doing so you'll realize that while a resume is important, your personal qualities can move you to the top of the list!